The Timazi Readership Challenge is a book reading program designed to build a healthy reading culture among high school students. The program engages students in different schools that have a pre-paid subscription to read a carefully selected book after which they write a guided report which enter into a national essay writing competition based on the book. Thereafter, a selected team of judges consisting of local Christian leaders and teachers grade the reports. The contest culminates with an award gala on the last weekend of June every year.
Timazi presents this book, In Search for Sanity: How My Bipolar Disorder Turned into a Blessing, for the Readership Challenge 2023. The readership challenge is borne of our desire to encourage a generation of avid readers among the youth and introduce them to wholesome content. In this particular competition, we hope that as many people read this book, the curtain of shame and stigma among those who suffer will come down. And that they will find appropriate help and acceptance in the community as each of us does our part. When confronted with mental health illnesses, we can get stuck in extremes. For some of us, it is either a sign of witchcraft or demons that need to be cast out. For others, it’s purely a medical situation that only needs medicine.
The book’s author weaves his story around the role played by his family and wider community, his faith, and medical support, thus presenting a balanced view of his journey towards flourishing.
